Key Takeaways
- Hamas confirms 48 hostages to be released starting Monday morning
- Israel will free approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees in first phase
- Trump and al-Sisi to jointly chair major Gaza peace summit
- Hamas refuses to participate in formal signing ceremony
A senior Hamas official has confirmed that the release of 48 hostages, primarily Israeli citizens, will begin on Monday morning as part of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement. The prisoner exchange marks a crucial step toward de-escalation after two years of devastating conflict.
Hostage Release Details Confirmed
Osama Hamdan, a top Hamas official, told AFP on Saturday: “According to the signed agreement, the prisoner exchange is set to begin on Monday morning as agreed, and there are no new developments on this matter.”
The phased agreement involves Palestinian militant groups releasing the hostages captured during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. In return, Israel will free approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees during the initial phase.
While Hamas has confirmed the timeline, Israeli officials have yet to issue a formal statement about the exchange’s exact commencement.
Hamas Boycotts Formal Signing
In a significant development, Hamas announced it will not participate in the formal peace deal signing with Israel in Egypt.
“The matter of the official signing – we will not be involved,” stated political bureau member Hossam Badran, emphasizing that Hamas “acted principally through… Qatari and Egyptian mediators” during negotiations.
Badran dismissed US President Donald Trump’s peace proposal for Hamas members to leave Gaza as “absurd” and warned the group would “repel aggression” if Israel resumes hostilities.
Major Peace Summit Announced
US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will jointly chair a major Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday afternoon. The Egyptian presidency confirmed the gathering, which will include leaders from over twenty countries.
The summit aims “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability.”
This diplomatic push represents the most substantial international effort to date to resolve the prolonged conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced countless others across the region.
